David Letterman leaving 'Late Show' in 2015

David Letterman sits at his desk in New York Thursday during taping of that day’s telecast, Letterman announced that he will retire in 2015 when his contract expires. (AP Photo/CBS, Jeffrey R. Staab)

NEW YORK (AP) -- David Letterman is retiring next year as host of "Late Show."

During a taping of Thursday's show, Letterman said he has informed CBS that he will step down in 2015, when his current contract expires.

He specified no end date, telling his audience he expects his exit will be in "at least a year or so, but sometime in the not too distant future - 2015, for the love of God - (band leader) Paul (Shaffer) and I will be wrapping things up."

Referring to CBS chairman Leslie Moonves as "the man who owns this network," Letterman said: "I phoned him just before the program, and I said `Leslie, it's been great, you've been great, and the network has been great, but I'm retiring.'"

Along with his network, Letterman thanked "all of the people who have worked here, all of the people in the theater, all the people on the staff, everybody at home, thank you very much.

"What this means now," he cracked, "is that Paul and I can be married."

Letterman, who turns 67 next week, has the longest tenure of any late-night talk show host in U.S. television history, already marking 32 years since he created "Late Night" at NBC in 1982.

After losing the "Tonight Show" throne to rival candidate Jay Leno in 1993, he jumped to CBS to start "Late Show."

"For 21 years, David Letterman has graced our network's air in late night with wit, gravitas and brilliance unique in the history of our medium," said Moonves. "It's going to be tough to say goodbye. Fortunately, we won't have to do that for another year or so. Until then, we look forward to celebrating Dave's remarkable show and incredible talents."

Leno retired from "The Tonight Show" earlier this year, making way for "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon to take over that NBC institution.

Leno held the ratings leadership for most of his two-decade duel with Letterman, but Dave remained the overwhelming critical favorite, pushing forward in a "Tonight Show" tradition forged by Johnny Carson and, before him, Jack Paar and Steve Allen.

"Late Show" won a prime-time Emmy in 1994. Letterman earned a Peabody Award in 1992 and was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2012.

In an interview with Howard Stern in January, Letterman said that Leno's departure would have no impact on how much longer he might stay as host of "Late Show."

"I would do it forever if it were up to me," said Letterman, before adding a wry aside: "Sometimes, it isn't up to me."

With the late-night dust now settling at NBC, Who Replaces Letterman becomes the new guessing game. In the wings as a likely heir: Craig Ferguson, host of "The Late Late Show." It has followed Letterman, who produces it, since 2005.